SUNY Potsdam

Damage

Students are held responsible for damage beyond normal wear and tear to their room, common areas of the residence hall (i.e. hallway, stairwell, bathroom, lounge, etc.) and college provided furnishings. If damage occurs in a common area, the individual(s), if known, will be charged judicially and financially.  Damage bills are sent out as the damage is assessed, most commonly at the end of each semester.  Students will have two weeks from the date of the damage bill to appeal.  Appeals must be made in writing to the Office of Residence Life.  Students will be responsible for payment by the end of each semester.  Failing to pay this bill will result in a hold being placed on all official college records.

If the individual(s) cannot be identified, the community affected will be subject to the following Community Billing Process.

1. The Resident Assistant will hold a meeting with all of the members of the living unit to discuss the incident(s) and ask for the cooperation of all residents to discontinue the problem behavior.
   
2. If the problem continues, the Residence Director will send a formal warning letter to all residents within the living unit as well as conduct a meeting to further discuss the college policy and violation.
3. If, after the first two steps are taken and the damage/vandalism continues without being able to identify the responsible person(s), then all of the residents who live within the living unit will be billed to cover any repairs or excessive cleaning.  The bill will consist of a listing of all of the damages done to that area divided by the total number of students in that area.
   

Damage Costs

The following is a list of costs for common damages in student rooms.  Unless otherwise indicated, the prices represent replacement costs. All costs include labor and administrative fees, but IFR (Income Fund Reimbursable) is extra.

Technology Equipment Replacement Costs

The Time Warner equipment is all considered part of the contents of each room and must be left in each room at the end of every semester. If you have been using any of your own equipment, you must replace it with the College issued equipment prior to vacating your room.  Room checks will be conducted after commencement to confirm that the equipment is in place and in good working order.  If any of this equipment is missing from a room or damaged to the extent that it is unusable, all occupants of the room will be billed an equal portion of the replacement cost listed below.

Housekeeping

Each hall's cleaning staff maintains the public bathrooms and those found in suites and common areas (i.e. lounges, bathrooms, stairwells, hallways, etc.). They are responsible for the day-to-day general cleaning, but not for cleaning up excessive messes left by students.  As members of the residential community, you should encourage fellow residents to share in accepting responsibility for ensuring that excessive messes are cleaned up by the responsible individual(s) and that college property is not damaged.  Students are responsible for keeping their room/suite in a neat and orderly condition at all times.  Willfully creating a housekeeping problem within a room/suite or common area will be considered a disciplinary matter and the community billing policy may be applied when appropriate (see damage section).

Repairs

If there is something in your room or building that you believe needs repair, speak to your RA or RD. S/he will give you a maintenance request to fill out which notifies the maintenance staff of the needed repair. Repairs are handled on a priority basis with safety and security repairs taking precedence. In the event that a maintenance problem is not promptly resolved, it should be brought to the attention of your Residence Hall Director.  Continuing unresolved problems should be reported to the Office of Residence Life.  Students will need to notify the staff is we have permission to enter the room when they are not present or not.

Room Decorating and Personalization

     In some circumstances, students are allowed to paint their residence hall room, but must obtain approval for room personalization project before beginning.  The color (pastel shades), paint type (latex only) and design must all be approved.  Painting and other similar types of personalization is not permitted in any common area space.  All rooms must be painted over before you check out of a room. Students are responsible for the cost of materials and must supply their own paint and supplies.  You will be billed to have your room repainted for any painting that is found to be unacceptable or any room which is not painted over at the time you check out of your room.

     Students are encouraged to personalize their room/suite as long as it does not damage the room/suite.  Students are not permitted to wallpaper their rooms, however, they may put up a wallpaper border providing it does not damage the wall and you have prior approval.  All personalization projects must be removed at the time of check-out.  Any subsequent damage will be billed accordingly.

Sustainability

All students are expected to comply with all College policies and regulations in regards to recycling.  Students are also required to use compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs in all fixtures provided by the College.  Students are strongly encouraged to use CFLs in all fixtures that brought into the room/suite/Town House/apartment themselves.  Students are ask to use Energy Star or energy efficient appliances within the room/suite/townhouse/apartment.

Waste Disposal

Students are also responsible for the proper disposal of garbage and waste according to published procedures.  This includes, but is not limited to recycling, batteries, computers, printer cartridges, broken glass, medical waste and needles, etc.  Central areas are provided in each residential area for this purpose.  Personal waste from rooms should not be discarded in bathrooms.  Special receptacles for medical waste and needles are available through Student Health Services.